7 days gorilla safari in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo

Overview.

Overview. Mountain gorillas inhabit the Great Lakes region that is to say parts of central and East African tropical rainforests. mountain gorillas can be found in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC in the respective national parks of Mgahinga and Bwindi, Volcanoes and Virunga National Park.

This trip will allow visitors to have an encounter with mountain gorillas in these various countries which will be such a life changing opportunity because of the unforgettable experiences. The seven days will be full of exploration and encounters of mountain gorillas and other wildlife species in the national parks.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Afternoon boat cruise.

Guests will be picked up from their hotel facility by a professional tourist guide with a tourist vehicle who will drive them to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey will take you about 7 hours and 11 minutes and on arrival at the National Park you will be served a flavorful lunch.

Check in at the lodge facility and after transfer to Kazinga channel. Explore around Kazinga channel in an exciting boat cruise that will allow you to view the animals that inhabit the lakes of Edward and George including the hippopotami, crocodiles and the view of the fishing villages at the lakes. There will be interaction with the fishermen at the lake that will showcase the types of fish caught at lake Edward especially tilapia and lung fish. At sunset, you will head back to the lodge for relaxation dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 2: Morning game drive and transfer to Bwindi National Park.

A flavorsome breakfast will be served at the lodge facility very early in the morning. After there, you will embark on a guided morning game drive through the Queen Elizabeth national park wilderness where you will have an opportunity to view wild animals including the lions, leopards, African buffaloes, African bush elephants, hyenas, zebras, giraffes and many others.

You will also have the opportunity to view the breathtaking forests especially the picturesque Kyambura gorge. After the game drive you will embark on the transfer to Bwindi impenetrable National Park, a journey that will take you about three hours and 40 minutes. Lunch will be served at the lodge facility on arrival at the National Park. Continue and check in at the lodge facility and relax the whole evening as you tour around the lodge. Dinner will be served later on in the sunset hours and you will stay for a peaceful overnight.

Day 3: Gorilla tracking and community tour.

You will be served an early morning meal at dawn. After, you will embark on the journey to the receiving center where you have a briefing with the Rangers of the park that will inform you about the guidelines on the gorilla tracking activity. Continue to the jungle after the briefing, and explore the jungle as you track the mountain gorillas up to the afternoon. Head back to the lodge for a flavor some lunch.

After lunch, transfer to the Batwa cultural village for an exciting encounter with these indigenous people, interact with them and have entertainment as they let you know about there are ways of life. Transfer back to the lodge at dusk where will be served an appetizing dinner and later have an overnight stay.

Day 4: Cross to Rwanda; Volcanoes national park

Guests will have themselves served breakfast at the lodge facility in the early morning hours. After there, you will embark on the drive through Cyanika border to Rwanda up to Volcanoes National Park which is approximately a two hours and 40 minutes’ drive.

Have a brief exploration of volcanoes National Park. Lunch will be served in the afternoon at around midday. After lunch continue exploring the jungles of volcanoes National Park where you’ll have the opportunity to view mountain gorillas and other primates especially the black and white colobus monkeys, golden monkeys and l’hoest’s alongside beautiful Bird species that inhabit the National Park. Guests will have a canopy walk experience that would enable them to view more of the inhabitants of the National Park.

The canopy walk will go on up to sunset where the visitors will head back to the lodge and have a delish dinner and stay for an overnight.

Day 5: Golden monkey tracking, cross to Virunga National Park.

An appetizing breakfast will be served at the lodge facility at sunrise. After breakfast, guests will continue to the jungle for the exciting golden monkey tracking activity with the Rangers of Volcanoes National Park. The activity will enable the visitors to maneuver through the thick rainforests and hike through the slopes of the Virunga massif enjoying the views of the nearby forests and the distant lakes. Transfer back to the lodge after the activity where you will be served a delectable lunch.

After lunch, embark on the journey to Virunga National Park which will take approximately 3 hours. You will check in at the lodge on arrival at Virunga National Park and relax as you wait for dinner later at sunset and stay for an overnight.

Day 6: Full day Nyiragongo mountain hike

Guests will have an early meal at dawn at the hotel. After there, embark on the drive to Nyiragongo mountain where you will start the hike to the top. The hike will take the visitors through the bamboo forests or the slopes of the mountain, the Moorland as you have the spectacular view of the surrounding Virunga park.

A packed lunch will be served on the way in the afternoon. After there, continue with the hike to the top of the mountain where you will have sensational photography moments and views of the park’s vicinity.

Continue to mount Nyiragongo summit where you will camp and relax. Dinner will be served to you later at sunset and you will stay at the camp for an overnight.

Day 7: Descend the mountain and transfer back to Kigali

Guests will be served an early meal at sunrise at mount Nyiragongo summit camp. After the meal, embark on the descent to the mountain base which will take you about three hours. On arrival at the base you will board and transfer back to Kigali, a journey that will take you about three hours and 10 minutes.